Serving Christ in México
Why did Jesus die on the cross?
There are a few ways to answer this question. We could talk about how Jesus went to the cross to pour out his blood to cover our sins. In a similar vein, we could answer that Jesus went to the cross to take our punishment on himself. We could also trace it back to the commitment of Jesus, as the Son of God, to obey his Father and bring glory to Him through the redemption of many sinners.
Continue reading “Joy Compelled Him”
If you walk the streets of our neighbourhood or poke your head into one of the shops on the main street, you´ll notice something. You might notice a little box fixed to the wall outside someone´s home or a small shelf in the corner of the pizza shop. Inside the box or placed on the shelf will be a statue or picture of a saint, likely accompanied by a candle or two. In our neighbourhood, the saint will be Saint Judas Thaddeus, the apostle of Jesus. He will be dressed in white and green and have a flame of fire above his head.
Continue reading “Oh, Now I Get It”
We are all familiar with the opening lines of Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me?” David, the human author of these words, is expressing an intense, deep pain – the pain of being abandoned by God.
Continue reading “From Pain to Praise”
The streets are named things like “Cross of Love”, “Christ the King”, “Hope Corner”, and “Joy Corner”. If you walked those same streets you´d see the irony of their names. More apt names might be “Garbage Hill” and “Crystal Corner”. So when a family who lived there asked us to do an evangelistic event, we readily agreed.
Continue reading “Cross Hills”
We like power. Nothing inflates our ego and makes us feel good like a shot of power in the arm. Power makes us feel important, confident, and secure. We have no problem imagining what we would do if given unlimited power. Whether getting rid of rules, traveling the world, solving poverty, or curing cancer, it´s easy to come up with a long list.
Continue reading “Big Power”
“Three is a start,” we thought.
About a year and a half ago we ran an Easter kids’ club and on the final day, the parents could put their names on a sign-up sheet if they were interested in a bible study. There were probably about ten moms who signed up. Not long after, we contacted all the moms via a WhatsApp group, informing them of the time and place of the bible study if they wished to attend.
Continue reading “Women in the Word”
“Folk religion” is a term used in the study of missions to refer to the beliefs and practices of a religion that happen at a popular, everyday level, but are outside of the accepted teaching of said religion. The religion and its elite officially teach one thing, but the religion that is actually lived out among the people is different, usually incorporating the traditional beliefs of the culture. This means, for example, that people may publicly pledge allegiance to the Church, but during the week, when real-life problems happen, they go to see the witch doctor or consult the horoscopes.
Continue reading “Angel on the Wall”
In chapter 38 of Jeremiah’s prophecies, we meet two men and their friends. The first is King Zedekiah and his friend Pashur son of Malchiah, a royal official and advisor. Pashur was the kind of friend who would bend over backward for someone else if it benefited him. Pashur’s advice was given in self-interest, but the king was fool enough not to care or know the difference.
Continue reading “Bad Friend, Good Friend”
Crepes for breakfast and then we are out the door shortly after 11:00 am. On the way to church at Pan de Vida we pick up Laura who lives in Santa Barbara and also attends at Pan de Vida. Return home at 2:00 pm and at 3:00 Armando and Laura, and their two daughters, come over for lunch. After that, we head over to the outreach centre for our 6:00 service. Sermon on Ephesians 2:19-22 – being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets and Christ the cornerstone.
Continue reading “A Week in the Life – VBS Edition”
Isaiah says in chapter 55:8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.
What does it mean that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts?
Let’s think about the thoughts that the original hearers of Isaiah’s message might have had.
Continue reading “My Thoughts Are Not Your Thoughts”
